Pivoted lug conveyer



Sept 28, y1948. F. G. BEMls Erm. l 2,450,106

PIVOTED LUG CONVEYER Sept. 28, i948., F. G. BEMIS ETAL.

PIVOTED LUG CONVEYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 8, 1946 Patented Sept. 28, 1948 PIV GTED LUG CONVEYER Farwell G. Bemis, Brookline, Mass., and Robert E. Pierce, Seattle, Wash., assignors to Bemis Bro. Bag Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application June 8, 1946, Serial No. 675,460

12 Claims. l

This invention relates to conveyors, and with regard to certain more specific features, to a lug type of conveyor.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a constant-speed, lug type of conveyor in which the feeding lugs may readily be selectively spaced for accommodating between them articles of various dimensions; the provision of a conveyor of the class described in which lug spacing operations are easily carried out; the provision of apparatus of the class described in which adjustments are easily made at one point on the machine and wherein required compensations elsewhere are automatically introduced; and the provision of apparatus of this class which is reliable and economical to construct. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of constructiony and arrangements of parts. which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of essential parts of the invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a right-end view of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 2, showing certain adjusted positions of parts;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Fig. 4 but showing other adjustments;

Fig. '1 is an enlarge-d detail section viewed from line 1-1 of Fig. 2, parts being broken away; and,

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of Fig. 7 and a vertical section taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 1 but omitting a lug support.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1-3, numeral I indicates a frame, at one end of which are oppositely disposed bearings 3 and 5, supporting a drive shaft 1. The drive shaft is turned by chain drive 9 extending from a suitable power source (not shown). The power source may be a motor and speed reduction unit.

Attached to the shaft 1 is a pair o'f equal-sized sprockets II and I3 for driving endless and parallel conveyor chains I5 and I1, respectively. The chains I5 and II1 at their other ends pass 2 over larger equal-sized sprockets I9 and 2I, respectively. The sprockets I9 and 2| are attached to a shaft 23 which is rotary in bearings 25 and 21, the latter being carried on suitable supports 29 and 3I attached to the frame I.

'I'he chains I5 and I1 are similar in form, de-

`tails being shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Certain side plates 31 are of special form. having laterally extending tongues 39. Riveted to the'tongues 39 and extending upward are dogs 4I. Carried on the dogs 4I are horizontal pins 43, located parallel to the respective chain. Pivoted on the dogs 4Iare laterally extending lugs 45. The lugs 45 may be positioned laterally, as shown by three lugs in Figs. 7 and 8, or vertically, as shown by one lug in said figures.

Beneath each reach of each chain I5 and I1 is a fixed chain support 53, as shown for examplein Figs. 7 and 8.

Along the upper reach of each chain is located avpair of guides 41 and 49. These guides are spaced apart, as indicated at 5I, thus providing a slot through which any upright lug 45 may move, if properly positioned for the purpose. Beneath the guide 49 is an upper lug support 55. This lug support 55 supports any laterally extending lug which is not turned up into position in the space 5 I.

Near each small sprocket II and I3 is located the turned-up end of a lower lug support 51. Each turned-up end forms a cam 59. The face of each cam 59 extends crosswise with respect to the end of the respective groove 5I. Thus each cam 59 will angle out of the plane of its chain any upright lug departing from slot 5 I. This occurs as the adjacent part of the chain passes over the respective sprocket. As all lugs 45 return along the bottom reach of the chain, they are supported by the lower lug support 51. The rear end of each lower lug support 51 partially follows the periphery of the respective large sprocket I9 or 2|, as indicated at 6I, and ends just short of the entry to the slot 5I. A clear space 63 is thus left for travel of the lugs 45 as they leave the lower lug support 51 and as they arrive at the upper guides 41 and 49 (Fig. 2). If any laterally extending lug 45, when it reaches the space 63, is not mechanically pushed into a radial position, it will not enter the slot 5I. The centrifugal force is not enough to accomplish this at useful operating speeds. If a lug is mechanically pushed, it will enter said space 5I. To provide for mechanically pushing select lugs 45 into position in the slot 5I to obtain predetermined lug spacing, the following mechanism is used:

Near each space |53 is an angled bearing 65. These bearings support trip'mechanisms E1 and 59, associated with the chains l5 and |1, respectively. Each trip mechanism consists in a rotary head 1| carried on a shaft 13 which is rotary in the bearing 55. The lower ends of the shafts 13 carry bevel gearsv 15 meshed with bevel gears 11 carried on a shaft 19. The latter has a rotary support in bearings 8| on the frame Shaft 19 also carries a bevel gear 83 which meshes with a bevel gear 85 on a lay shaft 81 A yoke 89 properly relates the gears 83, 85 and shafts 89 and 81.

At its other end, the lay shaft 81 has a gear connection with a cross shaft 9| through bevel gears 93 and 95, an alignment yoke 91 being employed. The shaft 9| is supported in bearings 99 and I0 It passes through the bearing |0| where' it is provided with a crank arm |03 in which is a slot |05. A roller |01 is operative in the slot |05, being carried on a pin |09 in the end of a second crank arm This crank arm is carried upon a shaft H3 carried in a movable bearing 5. The opposite end of shaft ||3` carries a change gear at l1, which gear meshes with an idler gear H5. Gear H6 meshes with gear ||9 on shaft 1 above described. Gear ||5 is mounted on a stub shaft H8 located in the support for bearing 5 (Figs. 2 and 4 6).

The bearing ||5 is adjustable, being carried upon a slide |Z| which is supported on a guide |23. Rotary in a bearing |725 which is connected to the guide |23 is a threaded shaft |21. This shaft is threaded into a nut portion |3l, associated with the bearing l5 and is under control of an attached handwheel |29. By turning the handwheel |29, the position of the slide |2| may be adjusted on the guide 23, thus making it possible t0 change the relative positions of the center lines of the shafts ||3 and 9|. Thus said center lines may be related, as shown in Fig. 4, wherein i a small gear at ||1 is used; or, as shown in Fig. 5, wherein a larger gear is used at H1; or as shown in Fig. 6, wherein a still larger gear is used at ||1. It will be understood that the gears to be located at ||1 are all removably keyed to the end of the shaft I3.

The parts ||3, |01, |05, |03 and 9| constitute an adjustable variable-drive mechanism, a similar one being shown for different purposes in United States Patent 2,119,024. The new col ordination and purpose herein of this variabledrive mechanism will appear. In some of the claims hereinafter the -term swinging block linkage is used to designate this mechanism consisting of the relatively adjustable cranks and |03 on their shafts ||3 and 9|, respectively, t0- gether with the guide means |05 in the crank |03 with the member |01 movable in the groove |05. Equivalents of member |01 are a block slider, or a plain round gudgeon, instead of the rolle shown.

Operation is as follows:

The shaft 1 is driven at a suitable speed from the chain drive 9, the motion being as shown by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 2. This causes the' upper reaches of the chains and |3to move to the right. Shaft 1 rotates the drive shaft ||3 of the quick-return mechanism. This is brought about by the gears ||9, I5 and the selected gear at ||1. Shaft 9| drives shaft 'F9 through gears 95, 93, shaft 81 and gears 85 and 63 The trip mechanisms 51 and 69 are thus oppositelyl rotated through action of the bevel gear sets 11 and 15'. Each head 1| carries a finger |33-, which as the head rotates is adapted to approach and pass miss the slot 5|.

through the space 63 on a bias and in a direction radially to move whatever lug 45 happens to be traveling in the space 53. This action is illustrated in Fig. 1. The respective lug 635 is thrown into the position to enter the slot 5|, wherein it advances forward as also illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

When the shafts ||3 and 9| are coaxial, or nearly so, as shown in Fig. 5, the velocities of the fingers |33 are such as to eect a proper striking action between the lingers |33 and the engaged4 lugs 45. Thus the lugs are moved quickly enough to enter slcty 5|, but they do not improperly spring back when engaging the stop formed by the endof the guide 19.

Successive rotations of the trip mechanisms 51 and 69 cause spaced lugs 125 to enter the slot 5|, after which they. advance forward, The design is arranged so that the spacing between the successive lugs in a slot 5|, measured in inches, is equal to the number of teeth chosen for the respective interchangeable gear at ||1. For instance, this gear at I1 in Fig. 2 has fourteen teeth and the spacing between successive dogs is therefore 14 inches.

As the successive raised lugs leave the opposite ends of the slots 5|, they strike the cam fingers 59 and are rotated into lateral positions for supportv upon the dog support 51 for return along the lower reach of thev chain to the space G3.

As indicated by dot-dash lines in Fig. 3, a suit'- able table |35 is arranged flush with the grooves 5| so that any article may be pushed by the upwardly exten-ding spaced lugs 45.

If it is desired to change the spacingl between successive liu-gs 45 in each groove 5|, this is accomplished by chan-ging the respective gear at ||1. Each slide |2| may be backed off by operating the respective hand wheel |29, and (for example) gears ofY eleven teeth inserted at l1.' The slide |2'I is then returned to mesh the gears at ||T with the gears at H5. This will result ina faster' periodic timing of the shaft ||3 and consequently also of the shaft 9| and its drive to the tripmechanisms 61 and 69. Hence more lugs 45 will be moved into positions in the slots 5|, thus decreasing their spacings. In this case the spacing between successive lugs l5 would be ll inches, assuming an ll-tooth gear at H1. Howeven this ordinarily would involve a higher linea-r speed of each finger |33, with the possibility of too high a velocity in connection with the tripped lugs 45. In other words, these lugs might bounce back from the stop end of guide i9 and It is to avoid such action that the mechanism shown in Figs. 4-6 is used. In the adjustment under discussion (shown in Fig. 4) the speeds of shaft H3 and 9| have been increased but the cyclic timing between them is still 1:-1. But during a cycle the shaft 9| accelerates and decelerates throughout a revolution, producing maximum and minimum velocities. These velocities are` transmitted to the trip mechanisms 61 and E9 and their ngers |33. Thus when the center line of the shaft ||3 is to the left ofY the center line of shaft 9|, the fingers |33 reach a minimum velocity as they approach engagement with the lugs 45. Then throughout the remaining portion of a cycle, the lingers |53 accelerate and-make a quick return and then are decelerated for their next low-velocity contacts with the lugs 45'. This' minimum velocity is closer to the mean velocity under ther Fig. 5 conditions than wouldl be thev case without a variable-speed apparatusV for the purpose.

If it is desired to increase the distance between successive dogs 45. this is accomplished by adjusting the slide |23, as shown in Fig. 6, wherein the center line of shaft ||3 is placed to the right of the center line of shaft 9|. This requires a larger gear at H1, for example, a 28-tooth gear which produces a 28-inch distance between successive lugs 45 which are tripped out by the respective ngers |33. The resulting slower velocity of the trip mechanisms 61 and 69, which would 'be brought about by insertion of the larger gear ||1 and without the variable-speed mechanism, would cause a linear Avelocity of the fingers |33 which would be too low properly to actuate the lugs 45 without interference from succeeding dogs. In other words, under these conditions the fingers |33 would pass too slowly through the space at 63. The variable-speed mechanism, in the Fig. 6 adjusted position, avoids this trouble, because in this adjustment iingers |33 accelerate as they approach respective openings 63. They then pass through the openings at maximum speeds and throughout the remaining parts of their cycles return at lower speeds.

It will be understood that, whether the mechanism is adjusted as in Fig. 4 for a quick return, or as in Fig. 6 for a slow return, the instantaneous velocities of the fingers |33 through the respective openings 63 are closer to the average velocities under the adjustment than would be the case without the variable-speed mechanism.

It should be understood that the adjustments shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6 are not the only ones, and that other gears may be placed at ||1, having other numbers ci teeth which correspond to the desired spacing in inches between the lugs 45 which are in the slots 5|. It will be seen. however, that for each gear which is used, at ||1 and properly meshed with the gear H6, an adjustment of the shaft 3 is automatically obtained which sets the variable-speed mechanism so that the ngers |33 pass through the space 63 at the proper speed for correctly operating the lugs 45 to be turned into the slots 5|.

From Fig. 1, it will be noted that on each shaft 13 is a fixed shoulder 2 upon which rests the respective head 1|, a central opening in each head centering it around shaft 13. Each head 1| carries an arcuate slot 4accommodating a lock bolt 6 threaded into the respective shoulder 2 so that the phase angles of the iingers |33 may be adjusted and locked in adjusted positions. Another important feature of the travel of each nger |33 is its angularity with respect to the direction of motion of the adjacently moving lugs 45. This angularity for a short distance at the openings 63 produces substantially equal tangential components of travel of the ngers |33 and lugs 45. Thus there is ample contact time between the iingers |33 and the lugs 45 for proper actuation, and to keep a moving finger |33 out of the way of a succeeding lug 45. e

It will be understood that the use of chains to support the adjustable dogs is preferable, but

that other iiexible connectors may be used for this purpose, such as belts or the like. They all serve to concatenate the dogs.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A conveyor comprising an endless ilexible connector mounted for movement along opposite reaches, initially positioned swingable lugs mounted in succession on said flexible connector,

,means providing a Slot along one reach of the connector into the inlet of which some of said lugs may be turned, cyclic trip means at the slot inlet adapted to turn lugs therein, means at the outlet end of the slot for returning said lugs to their initial positions relative to the ilexible connector, means'for varying the timing of the cycles of said trip means relatively to lug movement, and a cyclic variable-speed drive for the trip means for maintaining a substantially predetermined velocity oi' the trip means during tripping movements only, irrespective of the timing of the cycle thereof.

2. A conveyor comprising an endless chain, means for driving the chain with substantially constant speed along upper and lower reaches, laterally swingable lugs mounted in succession on said chain, means providing a slot along the upper reach of the chain into which any of said lugs may be turned, cyclic trip means at the inlet end of said slot adapted to turn lugs therein, means in the outlet end of the slot for returning said lugs to their initial positions relative to the chain, means including a change-gear for vvarying the period of the cyclic action of said trip means, an adjustable variable-speed drive for the trip means, means whereby adjustments oi.' said variable-speed drive effect accommodation of various change gears, whereby a substantially constant tripping action of the trip means is` maintained irrespective of the timing of the cycle thereof.

3. A conveyor comprising an endless chain, means for driving the chain with substantially constant speed along upper and lower reaches, laterally swingable lugs mounted in succession on said chain, means providing a slot along the upper reach of the chain into which any of said lugs may be turned, cyclic trip means at the inlet end of said slot adapted to turn lugs therein, means in the outlet end of the slot for returning said lugs to their initial Positions relative to the chain',- means including a change gear for varying the period of the cyclic action of said trip means, an adjustable variable-speed drive for the trip means, means whereby adjustments of said variable-speed drive effect accommodation of various change gears, whereby a substantially constant tripping action of the trip means is maintained irrespective of the timing of the cycle thereof, said trip means being arranged so as to have a component of motion along the direction of lug motions where they enter the slot, said component of motions and said lug motions being substantially! equal under all adjustments.

4, A conveyor comprising anendless flexible connector mounted for movement along upper and lower reaches in a substantially vertical plane, laterally swingable'lugs mounted in succession on said flexible connectors, means providing a slot along the upper` reach of the connector into which any of said lugs may be tripped, cyclic trip means at the inlet end of said slot for tripping lugs therein, means at the outlet end of the slot for returning said lugs to their initial positions relative to the exible connector, change-speed means for changing the cyclic timing of said trip means relative to connector move- -5. .A conveyor comprising a moving endlessy chain, a guide associated with one reach of said chain, a l'succession `of laterally movable lugs on said chain which are moved bysaid chain, cyclic tripfmeans for ,moving successive lug-s toward the guide, `a `connection between the chain and the trip means -for cycling the trip means vin unison withthe motion of the chain-and Ia variablespeed mechanism lin said connection whereby `the speed ofthe trip means is varied throughout a cycle thereof in such a manner that engagement between the trip :means and vthe lugs is substantially at :a predetermined velocity.

,6. .,A conveyor comprising ,a moving endless chain, -a guide associated with one reach of said chain, a succession of laterally movable lugs on said chain which are translated by said chain, cyclic trip means, an adjustable-speed -driving connection between the rchain Aand the :trip means for vcycling the trip means 4in unison Vwith the motion I of 'the chain but according to different and .adjustable periods, and a variable-speed mechanism in said connection whereby the .speed of the trip meansis varied throughout fa cycle thereof in such -a manner that engagement between `the `trip -means and the lugs is @always substantially rat a-given velocity, irrespective of theadjustment ,of said adjustable-speed connection.

.7. A conveyor l.comprising Van Aendless chain, .a guide associated with one reach of said chain, -a succession of laterally movable lugs on .said chain normally movable by said chain,.cyclic trip means forfmoving successive lugs toward the guide, power means 4for driving ,the chain, .a Fdriving connection between the chain land the trip means for cycling the trip .means 1in :unisonwith the .motion of the chain, .a .changegear mechanism in said conneotionior changing the cycling .period of said trip means, `a variable-speed Imechanism ,in said connection `whereby :the speed of .the trip means is varied throughout `a .cycle thereof in such :a manner that engagement .between the trip means and .the `lug 4is 4always lsubstantially at ya Ygiven ve locity.

8. tn-apparatus of the-rclassdescribed amovable .membenshiftable lugs on said membenmeans lfor driving said member at a .given speed, trip .1o. In apparatus of the class described, a chain,

lugs movable on said chain, means for driving the chain at a substantially constant speed, rotary trip .means .for moving successive lugs with respect to the cha-in, a drive connection between said chain .and said rotary trip means, a changegear connection in said drive for varying the periodicity of the rotary trip means with respect to motion of the chain, .and an adjustable swinging block linkage in said connection for accelerating and decelerating the trip means throughout one cycle of its action.

ll. In apparatus off the class described,a chain, lugs movable on said chain, means for .driving the chain with the lugs at a substantially .Constant speed, Aa rotary trip .finger having a biased inlove ment relative .to the chain during part of the ,1inger rotation foroptimum movement .of successive lugs with respect to the chain, .a drive connection between Vsaid chain and said rotary trip linger, ,a change-gear connection in said dri-ve for varying the periodicity of the trip finger rotation with re.- spect to motion of the connector, anda swinging block linkage in said connection for accelerating and deeelerating the trip finger throughout .one cycle of rotation.

1.2. `In apparatus oi the `class described, a ilexible connector, lugs movable Aon said connector, means for driving the connector with thelugs at a substantially vconstant speed, rotary trip means for moving successive lugs with respect Ito Athe connector, a drive 'connection between -said con.- nector and said rotary trip means, Aa changegear connection in said drive for varying the periodicity of the rotary trip means with respect to motion of the connector, a swinging block linkage in said vconnection for accelerating and de,- celerating the `trip means throughout one .cycle o f its action, and vmeans for vadjusting said sliding block linkage and at the same time re-orienting thje change-speed gear to accept a different gear, whereby regardless of the period of the cyclic action between the trip mechanism and the nexible connector a proper tripping action onthe lugs may be obtained from said trip means.

FARWELL G. BEMIS. ROBERT E. PIERCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record .in the iijle of this patent:

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